Dutch crisis management system NL-Alert to be tested on Monday at noon
Authorities will test the Dutch national warning system, NL-Alert, at noon on Monday, December 2, 2024. The loud, piercing sound of the notification will announce its arrival on mobile phones connected to the Dutch mobile network. The government advises against wearing earbuds or headphones as the scheduled test approaches.
The system is used to warn people in a wider area during emergencies such as severe storms, major fires, and other life-threatening situations. It can also be deployed during urgent incidents like a terrorist attack, an epidemic, or when the 112 emergency phone lines are unavailable. In addition to phones, NL-Alert messages will appear on digital advertising screens and public transportation displays, and the tests usually take place simultaneously with the regular monthly test of air sirens.
"This will sound different than a normal message," the government explained. Anyone with their phone turned on and connected to a mobile network should receive the alert, including during heavy periods of mobile network use.
However, people in border regions connected to German or Belgian cellular towers may miss the test message. Likewise, people in those countries may receive the message if their phones are in communication with a tower in the Netherlands.
Phones in airplane mode, powered off, or outside mobile coverage areas will not receive the alert. Additionally, devices connected to outdated 2G or 3G networks may be unable to receive the message.
Some users may receive multiple alerts due to technical settings. For example, Android devices with a repeat alert function or phones that connect to both NL-Alert channels—used for compatibility with older and modern mobile phones—may display the test message more than once.
Users can ensure their phones are configured to receive NL-Alert messages by adjusting their settings. On Apple iPhones, this can be done by navigating to Settings > Notifications > Emergency Notifications and confirming that the feature is enabled. Android users can activate the alerts by going to Settings > Emergency Alerts > Extreme Alerts. For Samsung devices, the menu path may differ but typically includes options for Emergency Notifications under Message Settings.
The message will clearly indicate that it is a test, stating: "NL-Alert [December 2, 2024] 12:00: TESTBERICHT. The government warns you during emergencies via NL-Alert. You will read what to do and where to find more information. *** TEST MESSAGE Netherlands Government Public Warning System. No action required."
NL-Alert tests occur twice annually, typically on the first Mondays in June and December. After Monday’s test, the next one is planned for June 3, 2025, at noon.
